Hiking and camping amid a lush tropical rainforest - Caving and kayaking in enormous subterranean caverns and breathtaking seaside sanctuaries - Sea turtle and whale watching from pristine Caribbean beaches. This adventurer's wonderland must be some secret Caribbean Oz hidden away from typical travelers. Surely, it's far from civilization and certainly far outside U.S. boundaries, right? Wrong! Well, sort of . . .
This Caribbean Oz is an adventurer's wonderland, yet it's also part of the U.S. Give up? It's Puerto Rico - the most overlooked U.S. vacation destination offering endless one-of-a-kind activities for the outdoor enthusiast.
HIKING AND CAMPING
Mention the name Puerto Rico, and the first image that comes to mind is the bustling city of San Juan. However, upon a second glance, Puerto Rico is also home to endless reserves, sanctuaries, and national forests. In addition, Puerto Rico's cool mountain retreats and lower altitude jungles suit just about every taste and are the perfect hosts for one-of-a-kind hiking and camping. The following are just a sampling of Puerto Rico's diverse offerings.
NOTE: Nearly all forest reserves offer camping; however, a permit is required and issued by the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forest Land Use Permits, PO Box 5887, Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, PR 00906. The Recreation and Sports Department (722-1551 or 721-2800) offer permits for public beach camping.
Panoramic Route
Proceeding east out of Mayaguez and spanning the whole length of Puerto Rico is the Panoramic Route. While towns and villages litter the roadside, endless reserves are also intermixed, offering "must do" hiking and camping opportunities.
Carite Forest
Located just west of Yabucoa, the 6,000-acre Carite Forest offers endless exploration opportunities and two campgrounds, Charco Azul and Guavate. Nuestra Madre, a Catholic meditation center and Cerro La Santa, a breathtaking 3,000-foot peak, are also located within the forest.
Rio Abajo State Forest
Nestled in the Karst foothills, the 5,700-acre Rio Abajo Forest Reserve offers everything from caves and camping to hiking and swimming. Start your adventure on an exploratory hike on one of the forest's 70 trails. Then cool off in one of two natural spring water swimming pools or take a dip in Dos Bocus Lake. You're then off to explore one of Rio Abajo's 15 commercial wood plantations, specializing in teak, mahogany, and maga. Or, contact forest supervisor Jose Casanova to arrange a tour of one of the many limestone caves. Finally, it's off to one of the park's newly formed campsites or the TJ Ranch (880-1217), a privately-owned coffee farm offering camping, toilets, pool, and meals on request.
